Octopus Guard

Position
Also known as:
Reach Around Guard

The Octopus Guard is a bottom position where the guard player threads one arm deeply under the opponent's far armpit from the side, wrapping around their back while maintaining a seated or hip-out angle. It creates powerful off-balancing control and is used to sweep, take the back, or transition to leg attacks when the top player attempts to pass.

Quick Reference

Key principles

  • · The deep underhook arm must reach across the opponent's back to their far hip or belt line, creating a seatbelt-like clamp from bottom.
  • · Angling your hips perpendicular to your opponent is essential to generate leverage for sweeps and prevent them from flattening you.
  • · Head position stays tight against the opponent's ribcage or hip to prevent crossface counters and maintain structural connection.
  • · Leg hooks on the near-side leg or butterfly hook control the opponent's base and set up sweep directions.
  • · When the opponent posts or widens their base to resist, immediately transition to back takes or leg entanglements.

Execution

  1. 1 From an open or half guard position, hip out to the side and thread your near-side arm deeply under the opponent's far armpit, reaching around their back.
  2. 2 Grip their far hip, belt, or lat to lock in the wrap, keeping your head tight against their torso.
  3. 3 Angle your body perpendicular to the opponent and establish a hook or leg control on their near-side leg.
  4. 4 Use the deep wrap combined with your leg hooks to off-balance them forward or laterally for sweeps or back takes.
  5. 5 If they resist by posting wide, immediately transition to back control by climbing your grip higher or switch to leg attack entries.

Common mistakes

  • × Failing to thread the arm deep enough, resulting in a shallow grip that the top player easily strips or shrugs off.
  • × Staying square-hipped instead of angling out perpendicular, which removes sweep leverage and lets the passer flatten you.
  • × Neglecting leg hooks or controls while focusing only on the upper body wrap, allowing the opponent to simply step over and complete the pass.

From the bottom

What the bottom grappler is working toward from Octopus Guard.

Octopus Guard Back Take transition Octopus Guard Sweep sweep

On top

The top grappler's options against Octopus Guard.

Octopus Guard Counter Back Take transition Octopus Guard Pass pass